Container cap with releasable capsule and method of use

ABSTRACT

A system for carrying a first ingredient and configured for mixture with a second ingredient of a container is provided. The system includes a cap configured for selective engagement with a mouth of a container, a capsule for carrying a first ingredient, a rod extending from the capsule, and a tab defining a fork translatable within the cap and selectively engageable with the rod for locking the capsule into a locked position relative to the cap. Translation of the fork without the cap unlocks and permits repositioning of the capsule for mixing the two ingredients.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/522,731 filed Jun. 21, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a container, and method of use, including a releasable capsule for housing within the container. More specifically, the releasable capsule and container, and method of use, separately house ingredients that are mixed upon disengagement of the capsule from a cap.

BACKGROUND

Mixing ingredients to make drinks is often done before placing a drink in a container. Otherwise, separate containers must be utilized to transport the various ingredients. Further, pre-mixing ingredients may degrade the aesthetic experience of enjoying the beverage and may even reduce the quality of the beverage when consumed at a later date.

Notwithstanding the advancements made in the prior art in the field of mixed beverages, there remains a need for a container, and method of use, which permits consumers to store ingredients separately in a single container, and which allows consumers to mix the ingredients together immediately before consumption. Disclosed herein are one or more containers and methods that advantageously address these issues.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form concepts that are further described in the following detailed descriptions. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

According to at least one embodiment, a system for carrying a first ingredient is provided. The system a cap configured for selective engagement with a container; a capsule for carrying a first ingredient; a rod extending from the capsule; a tab defining a fork translatable within the cap and selectively engageable with the rod for locking the capsule into a locked and sealed position relative to the cap and the container, wherein translation of the fork without the cap unlocks and permits disengagement of the capsule from the cap and the container.

According to at least one embodiment, a method of using the system is provided.

According to at least one embodiment, the fork defines two prongs configured for translating on opposite sides of the rod when the fork and rod are engaged.

According to at least one embodiment, the rod defines a ledge on an end of the rod, the ledge being supported by the prongs when the fork and rod are engaged.

According to at least one embodiment, the fork further defines a void shaped to nestingly house the rod when the fork and the rod are engaged.

According to at least one embodiment, the cap defines cap ridges and the container defines container ridges for permitting twisting engagement between the cap and the container.

According to at least one embodiment, the system further includes a capsule gasket positioned between the capsule and the container when the fork and rod are engaged for sealing the capsule from the container.

According to at least one embodiment, the system further includes a cap gasket positioned between the rod and the cap when the fork and the rod are engaged for sealing the capsule from the cap.

According to at least one embodiment, the system further includes the first ingredient.

According to at least one embodiment, the system further includes the container.

According to at least one embodiment, the system further includes the second ingredient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate particular exemplary embodiments and features as briefly described below. The summary and detailed descriptions, however, are not limited to only those embodiments and features explicitly illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a rear view of the container according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the container according to one or snore embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the container according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the container according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the container according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the container according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective, exploded view of the container according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective, exploded view of the container according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the pull tab according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the capsule according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

These descriptions are presented with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. These descriptions expound upon and exemplify particular features of those particular embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matters. Although the term “step” may be expressly used or implied relating to features of processes or methods, no implication is made of any particular order or sequence among such expressed or implied steps unless an order or sequence is explicitly stated.

Any dimensions expressed or implied in the drawings and these descriptions are provided for exemplary purposes. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to such exemplary dimensions. The drawings are not made necessarily to scale. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to the apparent scale of the drawings with regard to relative dimensions in the drawings. However, for each drawing, at least one embodiment is made according to the apparent relative scale of the drawing.

As will be discussed in more detail herein, this application discloses various embodiments of a system 10 for carrying a first ingredient 20. The system 10 may include a cap 12 selectively engageable with a container 24, and a capsule 16 housed or houseable within the container 24 for carrying a first ingredient 20. The container 24 may include a mouth 26 and a container body 27. The mouth 26 and the container body 27 may be unitarily formed, or may be selectively disengageable from each other. A ring 25 may form part of the container 24 for coupling the mouth 26 to the container body 27. The container 24 and/or container body 27 of the figures is depicted according to one embodiment, but may take any number of shapes and forms, including but not limited to a cylinder or a truncated cone.

A capsule 16 may be housed or housable within the container 24 and configured for carrying the first ingredient 20. The capsule 16 may include a capsule body 17 and a rod extending from the capsule body 17. The capsule body 17 may be shaped to house a first ingredient 20 therewithin. When the system 10 is fully assembled, or when the capsule 16 is positioned within a container 24, the rod 14 may extend from the capsule 16, through an opening 76 of the mouth 26, through an aperture 74 of the cap 12, and within the cap 12. The rod 14 of the capsule 16 may extend from a bottom portion 80 of the capsule 16. The bottom portion 80 may define a concave portion 82, the concavity being in relation to the capsule 16 and/or bottom portion 80.

The cap 12 may be configured for engagement with a mouth 26 of a container 24. In some embodiments, the cap 12 may be screwed onto the mouth 26 of a container 24. The container 24 may house a second ingredient 22. The cap 12 of the system 10 may define an interior perimeter 40 for engaging the mouth 26 of a container 24. The interior perimeter 40 may define perimeter ridges 54 for engaging mouth ridges 56 of the mouth 26 for selectively engaging the cap 12 to the mouth 26. The cap 12 may further define a floor 42 extending inwardly from the interior perimeter 40 for engaging the mouth 26. The floor 42 may define an aperture 74 therethrough through which the rod 14 may be translatable.

The cap 12 may further include a mouth gasket 51 for sealing the floor 42 to the mouth 26 when the floor 42 and mouth 26 are engaged. The mouth gasket 51 may be a separately constructed component of the system 10, may be a material applied to the floor 42, or both. The cap 12 may also define cylindrical perimeter 41 extending from the floor 42 and substantially parallel to the internal perimeter 40. The radius of the cylindrical perimeter 41 may be greater than the radius of the aperture 74, thereby permitting a cap gasket 50 to be positioned on the underside of the floor 42 within the cylindrical perimeter 41. The cap gasket 50 may be a separately constructed component of the system 10, may be a material applied to the floor 42, or both. The mouth 26 may further include a capsule gasket 52 for sealing the capsule body 17 to and interior-facing side of the mouth 26 when the capsule 16 and mouth 26 are engaged. The capsule gasket 52 may be a separately constructed component of the system 10, may be a material applied to the mouth 26, or both.

The rod 14 of the capsule 16 may define a ledge 60, a pin 62 and/or a hat 64. The ledge 60 of the rod 14 may be positioned within the cap 12 when the cap 12, mouth 26 and capsule 16 are each engaged. The ledge 60 may have a radius or width larger than the remaining portion of the rod 14, or when the rod 14 includes a pin 62, larger than the pin 62. The pin 62 may extend between the ledge 60 and the hat 64, the hat 64 having a diameter or width larger than the pin 62. The hat 64 may be sized to be nestingly engaged within the cylindrical perimeter 41 for guiding the fall of the capsule 16 when the capsule 16 is disengaged from the tab 30. Without such nesting engagement, the ledge 60 may interact with the cap 12, disturbing the fall of the capsule 16 and mixture of ingredients 20, 22. In some embodiments, the ledge may have a conical shape, with the base of the cone being positioned highest and the prongs 34 supporting the base above the pinnacle of the cone. The conical shape may minimize the interference of the ledge 60 during a fall, particularly in embodiments not having a hat 64. Alternatively, the hat 64 may define any number of holes therethrough for allowing gaseous exchange between the area within the capsule 16 and the area between the ledge 60 and the hat 64, aiding in the translation of the capsule 16 when the capsule 16 is unlocked.

The system 10 is in a locked position P1 when the cap 12 is engaged with the container 24, and the capsule 16 is engaged with the cap's aperture 74, the container 24, and the tab 30. When the tab 30 is disengaged from the rod 14 of the capsule 16, the system is in the unlocked position P2, and the capsule 16 is free to disengage from the cap 12 and container 24. In some embodiments where the interior of the container 24 is pressurized and under seal with the cap 12, the gasket(s) 50, 51, 52 may permit the capsule 16 to remain in an engaged and unlocked position P2 relative to the container, even after the tab 30 is disengaged from the rod 14. A vigorous shake, quick movement, and/or disengagement of the cap 12 from the container 24 may disengage the capsule 16 from the cap 12 and/or container 24, permitting the first ingredient 20 and the second ingredient 22 to mix.

Turning to the tab 30 of the system, the tab 30 may define a fork 32, prong 34 and handle 36. Although the handle 36 depicted in the figures has a circular shape with a pit therethrough, any number of shapes, sizes or configurations may be envisioned. The handle 36 is configured to be translated, for translating the tab 30 as a whole, translating the fork 32 and prongs 34 from within the cap 12 without. The two prongs 34 of the fork 32 are configured for being translated along two opposite sides the rod 14 and/or pin 62 of the rod 14. The fork 32 of the tab 30 may further define a void 65 shaped to nestingly engage the rod 14 and/or pin 62. As seen in FIG. 10, the void 65 may be contiguous with the space 67 between the two forks 32. The space 67 the two forks 32 may have a width smaller that the pin 62 and/or rod 14.

In a method of using the system 10, the tab 30 may be translated away from cap 12, removing the pin 62 and/or rod 14 from nesting engagement with the void 65 of the tab, causing the two prongs 34 to spread slightly. As the tab 30 is translated even further away from the cap 12, the pin 62 and/or rod 14 is no longer engaged with any portion of the tab 30, and the ledge 60 is no longer supported by the prongs 34 of the tab 30, and the system is then in the unlocked position P2.

The capsule 16 of the system 10 may carry a first ingredient 20. In some embodiments, the capsule 16 may be comprised of flexible material. For example, the capsule 16 may be comprised of sufficient flexible material to permit deformation of the capsule 16 when being inserted into the mouth 26 of container 24 for retrofitting a container of the prior art with a capsule 16, cap 12 and tab 30 disclosed herein. The flexible capsule 16 may be configured to expand upon positioning through the mouth 26 of the container 24.

When the second ingredient 22 housed within the container 24 is a liquid, the concave portion 82 of the capsule 16 may interact with the liquid during the disengagement and fall of the capsule 16 within the container 24, causing the capsule 16 to tilt over, enhancing the ability of the first ingredient 20 and second ingredient 22 to be mixed without additional forces being applied. Constructing the capsule 16, or portions thereof, of materials having lower buoyancies may also aid in the ingredient 20, 22 mixing.

The tab 30 may define a handle 36 for manipulating the tab 30. The tab 30 may further define a fork 32 for engaging the rod 14 and securing the capsule 16 into the locked position P1, where the capsule is sealingly engaged with the interior surface 72 of the container, thereby ensuring that the first ingredient 20 remains carried within the capsule 16. The fork 32 may define one or more prongs 34 for engaging one or more areas of the rod 14. The cap 12 may further define a slot 44 positioned between the floor 42 and a top 46 for accepting the fork 32 and/or prongs 34 therethrough and allowing translation thereof. The top 46 may serve to protect the engagement of the tab 30 and rod 14 and/or to prevent disengagement of the capsule 16 from the locked position P1.

Although there are many different configurations by which the slot 44 of the cap 12 may be configured to permit translation of the tab 30 with respect to the rod 14 for unlocking the capsule 16, in one embodiment, the slot 44 is split by a wall configured for being positioned between prongs 34 of the fork 32 and/or for connecting the top 46 to the floor 42 of the cap 12.

The system 10 may include the container 24. The container 24 may carry a second ingredient 22. The container may define a mouth 26, and the mouth 26 may define mouth ridges 56 for engagement with perimeter ridges 54 of the cap 12. Further, the container 24 may include a cap gasket 50 for sealing the cap 12 to the mouth 26 of the container 24. In some embodiments, the container 24 may include a capsule gasket 52 for sealing the capsule 16 to the container 24 when the capsule 16 is in the locked position P1.

The system 10 may include the first ingredient 20, the second ingredient 22 and/or additional ingredients 84.

Numerous methods of using the system 10 may be envisioned by one skilled in the art, and numerous methods have been described herein. As an example of one of these embodiments, a method of use may comprise translating or repositioning a tab 30 with respect to a cap 12 engaged with a mouth 26 of a container 24. The tab 30 may be engaged with a rod 14 at least partially positioned within the cap 12. The translation or repositioning of the tab 30 with respect to the cap 12 may disengage the rod 14 from the tab 30. The rod 14 may be engaged with or couple to a capsule 16 containing a first ingredient 20. Disengagement of the rod 14 from the tab 30 may unlock the capsule 16, which may or may not remain engaged with an interior surface 72 of the container 24 housing a second ingredient. Should the capsule 16 remain engaged to the container 24, the capsule 16 may be disengaged from the capsule 16. Once the capsule 16 is not engaged with the container 24, mixing of the first ingredient 20 and the second ingredient 22 may be permitted. 21.

A method of mixing two ingredients, including: pulling a fork of a tab from within a cap sealingly engaged with a mouth of a container carrying a second ingredient; disengaging the fork from a rod positioned within the cap; disengaging a capsule positioned within the container and carrying a first ingredient from the container, thereby dropping the capsule into the second ingredient and permitting the first ingredient and the second ingredient to mix.

Other mechanisms of disengaging the capsule 16 from the container 24 may be envisioned. For example, the tab 30 may be a push button positioned on the cap 12, having a fork 32, prong 34 and void 65 as described herein. Pushing of the button, or handle 36, would translate the prong 34 away from the ledge 60, so that the ledge 60 is no longer supported by the prong 34. In another embodiment, the ledge 60 may be shaped like a moon or circular segment, and the cap 12 may define a moon or circular segment within the aperture 74 of the cap 12. Upon twisting of the cap 12, the portion of the ledge 60 resting on the defined segment within the aperture of the cap 12 will become disengaged and unsupported, allowing the capsule 16 to disengage.

Particular embodiments and features have been described with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that these descriptions are not limited to any single embodiment or any particular set of features, and that similar embodiments and features may arise or modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of these descriptions and the spirit of the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for carrying a first ingredient, comprising: a cap configured for selective engagement with a container; a capsule for carrying a first ingredient; a rod extending from the capsule; a tab defining a fork translatable within the cap and selectively engageable with the rod for locking the capsule into a locked and sealed position relative to the cap and the container, wherein translation of the fork without the cap unlocks and permits disengagement of the capsule from the cap and the container.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fork defines two prongs configured for translating on opposite sides of the rod when the fork and rod are engaged.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the rod defines a ledge on an end of the rod, the ledge being supported by the prongs when the fork and rod are engaged.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the fork further defines a void shaped to nestingly house the rod when the fork and the rod are engaged.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the cap defines cap ridges and the container defines container ridges for permitting twisting engagement between the cap and the container.
 6. The system of claim 1, further including a capsule gasket positioned between the capsule and the container when the fork and rod are engaged for sealing the capsule from the container.
 7. The system of claim 1, further including a cap gasket positioned between the rod and the cap when the fork and the rod are engaged for sealing the capsule from the cap.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising the first ingredient.
 9. The system of claim 1, further including the container.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the fork defines two prongs configured for translating on opposite sides of the rod when the fork and rod are engaged.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the rod defines a ledge on an end of the rod, the ledge being supported by the prongs when the fork and rod are engaged.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the fork further defines a void shaped to nestingly house the rod when the fork and the rod are engaged.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the cap defines cap ridges and the container defines container ridges for permitting twisting engagement between the cap and the container.
 14. The system of claim 9, further including a capsule gasket positioned between the capsule and the container when the fork and rod are engaged for sealing the capsule from the container.
 15. The system of claim 9, further including a cap gasket positioned between the rod and the cap when the fork and the rod are engaged for sealing the capsule from the cap.
 16. The system of claim 16, further comprising the second ingredient. 